Egg-crate



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

W. P. TILLEY & G. E- CALVERT.

EGG CRATE.

No. 448,281. Patented Mar. 17, 1891 INVENTOR S. c5. 6 1

.. A E E E W WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. P. TILLEY & O. E. CALVERT. EGG CRATE.

No. 448,281. PatentedMar. 1'7, 1891.

WITNESSES: INVENTORS;

W% BY AM Aivuww ATTORNEY.

4 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE.

VILLIAM P. TILLEY AND CHARLES E. CALVERT, OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

EGG -CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,281, dated March 1?, 1891. Application filed July 18, 1890. gerial No. 359,239. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, \VILLIAM P. TILLEY and CHARLES E. CALVERT, citizens of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a cell box or crate in which to pack and transport eggs, fruit, and other articles.

The object is to provide an improved folding or knockdown box or crate of the character mentioned.

' The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same, showing the cells. Fig. 3 is across-section withoutthe cells and showing how the sides fold down to the bottom. Fig. 4 is aview of the box partly folded. Figs. 5 and 6 are side-edge and endedge views of the box folded. Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the hooks which are attached to the end pieces of the box. Fig.- 8 is a detail of one of turn-buttons which are attached to the cover of the box. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of the folded box. Figs. 10- to 15 are views of the cells.

The letter A designates the bottom of the box, having at each end an upturned flange I), each flange being provided with a slot 0 and also having at one side edge an upturned flange Z). The ends B of the box are secured to the upturned flangeshby hinges cl. These ends B are provided near their top edge with a slot 0 and at each top corner with a hook e. The sides 0 O of the box are secured to the bottom by hinges f. One side 0 is hinged to the upturned flange b, and the other side 0 is hinged to theplain flush edge of the bottom. By this construction the box may be folded in the following manner: First the side G',which is hinged to the flush edge, is turned down fiat in direct contact with the bottom A. Next the other side 0, which is hinged. to the up turned flange b, is turned down on top of the first. side. Then the two ends 13, which are hinged to the upturned flanges h, are turned down on top of the side 0, thus makingacompact body. The top D has side flanges g and end flanges 71., each of the latter having a slot '1', provided with a turn-button 7a. The top flanges g It will take over the box either when it is open, as in Fig. 1, or when it isfolded, as in Figs. 5, 6, and 9. \Vhen the topD is on the open box, as in Fig. 1, the turn-buttonsk will engage the slots 0' near the top edges of the ends B, and thereby confine or fasten the top to its place. hen the top is on the folded box, as in Fig. 9, the turn-buttons 7; will engage with the slots 0 in the upturned flanges Z) on the bottom, and thereby the folded box will be kept in compact shape for shipment. hen the box is open, the hooks con the top corners of the ends will engage with slots or other suitable devices 7' in the top corners of the sides 0 C, and will thereby hold the box open and prevent the sides and ends from folding down upon one another. When it is desired to fold the sides and ends together, as already explained, the hooks e are first disengaged from the slots j, and after the sides and ends are folded together the free ends of the two hooks c on one side of the box rest upon the edge of the upturned flange Z), and the free ends of the two hooks e on the otherside rest upon the bottom of the box. When the box or crate of the proportions here shown is folded, there remains a central space between the edges of the two folded ends of the box. The object of this space will be referred to fart-her on.

In the box and arranged in tiers are collapsible cells 0, one above the other, and between the said tiers are placed division-plates Z, which has heretofore been done in the shipment of eggs, fruits, and similar articles by means of crates. The cells 0 may be constructed of cheap paper-board or any other suitable material. They are formed of straight strips of paper m, which extend parallel in one direction, and jointed sections 91, which extend in the cross direction, thus forming the cells 0. Each straight strip m has transverse slits 12, all out at the same edge and far enough apart for the space between to form one side of a cell. The opposite edge q is solid-continuous or uncut. The jointed sec tions it each form one side of a cell. They are united into a strip by astrap of cloth or other material 0 glued, pasted, or otherwise secured across the surface of the sections a. It is preferred to secure this strap to an opposite side "the position seen in Fig. 15.

of the alternate sections, as shown. An open slit m is thus left between each two sections n. The -two border strips or outside strips 3 have transverse slots 15 only in the center, both edges of this strip being solidcontinuous or uncut. It will now be seen that the strips m and jointed sections 01 are united 'by intermeshing the slits p of the strips with the slits m of the sections.

lengthwise, -'as man y other cellconst-riictions do, *butsimplycollapse in ina'nner'siinilarto the Ohinese lantern. These folded or 061- lapsed "eellsand the plates l are'packed ii -the fcen't-ra'lspacedieretoforementioned in'thebox between thedowrifolded ends.

The compactnesswhen folded of "the aparts "both of the box-and cells snake it possible to ship thesedevicesat very 10wrates,whereb:y it Willsp'ztytosend "them filled with goods in onei directionand returnthem inthecollapsed condition.

Having described our invention, we claim' 1. A foldingboxor crate having, in combi- It is preferred to puttliemz together as shownthat is, by having one nation, a bottom A, provided at each end with an upturned flan ge I), each having aslotc, and also provided at one side with an upturned flange, ends B, hinged to said end flanges and having near their top edge a slot 0', a side 0, hinged to the said side upturned flange, and

'tlie'opp'os-ite-side (IQ-hinged to the plain'flush edge of the bottom, a top D, having side and end flanges which take over the box part either when it is open or closed, and a turnbutton 70 in each of the slotted flanges of the top, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The herein-described collapsible cells for egg or frnit cra'tes, "comprisin g straight strips m, extending parallel in one direction and having slits p at-on eedge, While the otheredge is 'co'ntinuous,a'n outside or border strip 3, also {parallel "with said-straight strips andhavin-gcenter slots t, andoell-sectionsn, a number of which are-united and form a .ijointed strip by means'ot a'strap -r, -seou-red across the su'rfaee ofeach section and leavingan open slit m between every two sections,'said jointed section str ip's extending crosswiseof the ,parallel' straightstripsand'theends of said-straps passed through the center'slots'intheoutside "strips'and secured thereto.

-In-testimonywhereof'we affixoursignatures in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ;P. TIL-LEY,

CHARLES E. CALVERT.

Witnesses:

PAUL '0. MUFIN, E. O. RAIN. 

